New York’s legendary Hip-Hop radio station Hot 97 hosted its Who’s Next? Live at S.O.B’s and invited AK69 as a special guest.
Who’s Next? Live is a showcase for up and coming artists in the Hip Hop world that have generated enough buzz to warrant performing for a Hot 97 event. Hosted by Hot 97′s own Peter Rosenberg and Shani Kulture, performers included: Japan’s No. 1 selling Hip-Hop artist, AK-69; Bishop Nehru; Yungstar 6’3; Dyme-A-Duzin; and 360.
DJ did his thing to hype up the show playing Jay-Z’s old hits like, “”Money Ain’t A Thing,” “Big Pimpin’,” “Heart Of The City,” “ROC Boys” and more. 20 something young audience seemed to know all the songs.
Up first was Japan native (from Nagoya to be exact) AK-69. Proclaimed the “Jay-Z of Japan,” AK-69 definitely showed us why he is deserving of such accolades. He has a great flow and even though he was not understood the whole time (he performed in both Japanese and English,) it was evident he had talent as a rapper and singer!
He performed 4 songs from his latest album, “The Independent King” which I believe he’s living up to the album title. Damn, he’s got swag. A lot of it. The song, “Independent King” shows what he is today is a result of fighting his own battle and doing things the way that he can only do.
Closing his set with the rapper’s anthem to be “Yellow Gold,” he sang ♪♪yellow gold, yellow gold, yellow gold, ya know we gotta shine like yellow gold……♪ AK-69 really represented Nippon!!
AK-69 Official Site
Watch AK-69’s interview on FCI Morning EYE via Youtube (English subtitled)
harlem2nippon.com 